I dunno about keyboard warriors tbh. I'm a pacifist generally, but when I heard my garage being broken into and someone trying to get my (locked) bikes, I tore down the stairs and out of the front door ready to do an awful lot of something very forcefully. They'd run off, so I never got to find out what that something was.

I'd have been tempted to sit on the thief until the plod arrived. Or at least let him think he was going to be kidnapped and tortured or something.

Okay, before the rest of the Avengers Assemble the OP did exactly the right thing, assault of ANY kind would have landed the OP right in the doo dah so well done for being restrained enough to let the scumbag go...but, information is what the police (and some of the caped crusaders on here, would like, vehicle details, descriptions etc)

legal side- the OP could have arrested under this legislation (ignore the PCSO crap, it applies to ANY person...)

Id have made it look like he fell off the bike.. aim for ribs, collar bone, stamp on his hands

Really? So you would have committed a far worse crime in retribution? What if you'd been on your own, and the thief was bigger/harder/tougher than you? Would you be such a big man then?

Easy for the keyboard warriors to dish out e-beatings.

Yet the reality is, that the vast majority of people will in fact stand by and watch something happen, without getting involved. Then perhaps act all brave and tough on an internet forum...

Well done to the OP, for showing restraint. And even if he'd held the thief until the police came, what would the outcome of that be? The thief could well claim he'd simply found the bike and was going to try to return it to it's rightful owner. Doubtful the CPS would bother, unless the OP had sufficient witnesses/evidence (did he actually see the thief take the bike? Because that would be pertinent to any charge/conviction).

You have let him get away to go nick someone else's bike! Fool boy! He will never learn his lesson wi soft touches like you about!

So he takes a beating, the OP is then guilty of a far worse crime, and the thief then decides to prevent any future beatings by arming himself with a weapon. Great. Because that sort of approach will really help combat crime.

Re. The keyboard warrior comments, most of us don't seem to be querying why he didn't give the guy a beating

A few sly jabs in the ribs to mimic an OTB would not have gone amiss

Was there not a staircase nearby he could have tripped and fallen down whilst trying to make his escape?

like a simple jab on a rib cage make it looks like OTB

Id have made it look like he fell off the bike.. aim for ribs, collar bone, stamp on his hands.

Taking his clothes would have been good too and then not bothering calling the old bil. Give him something physical to remember, like scar.

Lots of good advice on this thread that's for sure.

Maybe the OP should have waited on plod but we don't know the full circumstances. How long would he had to have waited. Could his mate went and got back up? etc.

Assaulting the guy seems like a bit of rough justice, but presumably after you have given him a bit of a doing you'll have to let him go anyway as you don't want done with assault. The bike thief will learn that the next time he tries to steal a bike he better make sure he is tooled up.

The pub was the Vaynol Arms in pentir, if you know it , you will also know why guard was down, barman was shocked, said the landlord has left the front door open /ajar allnight on a heavy session, nothing taken-- these two scrotes are from caernarfon-- i have car reg, but more importantly i have 'connections' there, will find his real name and details-- but its funny, at the time you are reacting with adrenalin flowing, not always easy to think rationally, unlike some on here who seem to have it all down to a T- those who live round here know that its a relatively small community, its not hard to track people down.
Bike was not locked, don't usually stop ,but i have been riding round here for thirty years, never locked a bike on a 'ride'-- like to keep it in sight, which in this case was a big help. What will the police do--well for a start , last night mateys car was in the 'system'--a check would have been done-- will be getting a visit today/tomorrow, lets see what develops-- by the way these were not 'proper' bike theives-- opportunist,yes, incompetent -hell yes, potentially violent --who knows-- will add any relevant info......

Well Done mate, good job. As I said earlier you showed a hell of a lot of restraint.

the lad was crappin himself-- not being a particularly violent type myself, didn't seem anything useful would come of beating him-- sure some rambo types may be different-- violence is a last resort for me--

Did he have a wallet on him? Get his name and let him go, then tell the old bill.

Or if it's a manageable situation, restrain him and call the police.

At least you got your bike back.

Had a similar situation when someone vandalised my car a few years back, we caught him and there was a bit of a scuffle as we tried to restrain him. He came off a bit worse lets say, and when the police arrived I was totally honest and said we'd had to be a bit physical to restrain him and they didn't care in the slightest.

Christ - I'd take a bloody big lock with me if I was leaving my bikes around there. Plenty near enough to Maes G, Pesda and Cfon and their many scrotes.

dont know any roadies roundhere who take 'a bloody big lock' --on a day ride-- like every where we have social problems/drug issues-- funny thing is i live in Maes G- safest place around mate-- but i suppose it helps if you are known.... the cofi boy will be found......

This story would have been just as interesting (ie. never happened) if you'd invested in one of these, that I recently purchased for pub/cafe stops.

i have an old squire wire lock, that i always use when leaving a bike out of site/in town-- will deter opportunistic theives, but how far do you go until it becomes pointless ? as i said we can all get complacent, that was a reminder !